Week 7 Flashcards
What is acute coronary syndrome?
Range of symptoms / conditions associated with sudden reduced blood flow to the heart
Excessive sweating
diaphoresis
Commonest cause of ACS
Rupture of atherosclerotic plaque
Stable vs unstable plaque
Stable - small necrotic core (With lipid content) and think fibrous cap Unstable - thick necrotic core, thin fibrous cap
Stable vs unstable angina
stable - demand ischemia, no infarct, normal ECG, breathlessness/pain upon exertion unstable - supply ischaemia, no infarct, thrombus forms but occlusion is only partial, may have abnormal ECG (inverted T, ST depression)
NSTEMI vs STEMI
NSTEMI - Subendocardial infarct, plaque rupture, partial occlusion , cardiac enzymes in the blood, may have abnormal ECG (inverted T, ST depression), some damage STEMI - XXX
Clinical presentation of ACS (5)
Chest pain, can radiate to left shoulder, at rest / exertion (Squeezing, heaviness) Sweating Shortness of breath dizziness anxiety (sense of impending doom)
What blood tests do you for suspected MI? (6) And why
Troponin - sign of heart cell death (not present in unstable angina) FBC - to check for anaemia / haemoglobin CKMB - cardiac enzyme Lipid profile - cholesterol Glucose - to check for diabetes D-dimer - to check for clotting (can help rule out clotting)
Investigations for suspected MI
ECG Bloods - cardiac enzymes, other tests CXR Echocardiogram
How long does it take for troponin to return to normal after MI?
up to 2 weeks
What are we looking for with echo?
Resting wall cardiac abnormalities
Immediate management of STEMI in hospital (4)
MONA Morphine (possibly with anti-emetic) Oxygen (below 90%) Nitroglycerine (vasodilator) ASA - ticagrelor or clopidogrel
Management of suspected STEMI out of hospital (what to do depending on distance from hospital, what type of hospital)
120 min from tertiary centre, go directly (give GTN spray and aspirin chewed) If more than 120 min, give thrombolytics (and still go to tertiary centre)
How do you score patients with ACS?
Risk stratify using Grace Score
What is long term treatment plan for MI patient post-discharge? (4 drugs)
Statins - stabilise clot and reduce blood cholesterol ACE inhibitor - prevents remodelling of heart (can be used in patients w/o hypertension for this) Beta blockers - to decrease heart rate so heart can rest to heal Dual antiplatelet - especially after angio (aspirin and ticagrelor)
What are the secondary prevention methods recommended post MI? (4)
Reduce alcohol consumption Regular physical activity (slow, post recovery) Smoking cessation Weight management
What is health promotion?
Broad promotion of wellness, good health (broader and distinct from prevention)
Describe risk as a clinical tool
It is a statistical entity that gives you an odds ration based on statistics - it is not predictive of individual outcomes
Important considerations when considering a particular patient and risk
Epidemiology implies statistical relationships are causal for individuals Focus on measurable factors of ‘risk’ can result in neglecting less measurable social/cultural contexts
Describe the social construction of risky behaviour
The context around the behaviour - variable thoughts about a particular risk depending on their position within society / their individual position in society People have their own rational reasons to engage in risky behaviour